NEW ORLEANS — Though still in the narrow tunnel he entered when preseason practice began in October, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said he had a “defining moment” Monday night while sitting out behind his home enjoying a cup of coffee.

“There were, like, four deer in the woods behind the house,” he said. “I said, ‘Hey, fellas, the Buckeyes are going to the Final Four.’ And they took off running.

“At that point, I said, ‘OK, that’s a step in the right direction, to enjoy this. I told the deer that we were going to the Final Four.’”

One small step for Matta.

When he made it to his first Final Four, five years ago with the Buckeyes, he was in his seventh season as a head coach and the only deer he noticed was the prancing Joakim Noah of Florida.

“I never really took a deep breath and said, ‘Hey, we’re in the Final Four,’ ” Matta said.

“I didn’t realize there were 50,000 people in the Georgia Dome, or however many there were, the night we played (Florida for the national championship). ‘There’s the court. There’s (Al) Horford, Noah, (Corey) Brewer. How are we going to guard those guys?’ ”

He would like to think this time will be different.

“Just the realization of where you are, the time it is of college basketball,” he said. “But truth be told, I probably won’t enjoy this one, either.”

The Buckeyes arrived in New Orleans last night.

Final Four flashback

Jared Sullinger was a high-school freshman when Ohio State played in the 2007 Final Four.

“I remember Greg Oden going up for a dunk against Jeff Green (of Georgetown),” he said. “There’s a picture (of it), and you can see everyone on the bench with their mouths wide open, just like (they were) in shock.

“It was crazy. I remember him going up for that dunk, and I’m in my living room and had two hands on my head like, ‘Oh, my God.’ ”

Sullinger also remembers Ohio State being “down by a lot” in the championship game against Florida and that Oden “all of a sudden just (became) another person and single-handedly brought his team back to (having) a chance of winning the game. But Florida was just a little more talented at the time.

“We know coach Matta still holds onto that, so hopefully we can get past that.”

Top 10 program

Ohio State is one of 10 schools that have reached the Final Four more than once in Matta’s eight seasons as coach.

“I think it definitely helps in terms of your brand, your image, as a program,” Matta said. “Does it get you A, B or C? It doesn’t. You still have to do the work. But I think you have validity in what you’re talking about.

“Everybody wants to win. Everybody wants to compete for a national championship. We’re there. We’re doing that, we feel, on a consistent basis.

“You’re going to get knocked off here and there along the way, but to be in this mix year after year after year after year, I think, is exactly where we want this program.”

Sullinger, Aaron Craft and William Buford all said Final Four appearances are important to recruits.

“Recruits want to win. I know that was the biggest thing with me. I wanted to win. That’s why I chose Ohio State,” Sullinger said.

“Hopefully, people don’t say we’re just a football school. Hopefully, now they can switch that and say we’re a basketball and a football school. But I probably doubt that will happen.”